Manhole-platform support



C. N. CONLEE MANHOLE PLATFORM SUPPORT Apr. 24, 1923.

Filed May 22 1922 INVENTOR. 612% 6014166 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

stares PATENT OFFICE.

CARLTON N. CONLEE, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MANHOLE-PLATFORM SUPPORT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARLTON N. CoNLEE, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Manhole-Platform Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to manhole platform supports. The object of the invention is to rovide a strong but removable and adjustah le support for the working platforms which it is often necessary to install in man- I holes.

The invention consists chiefly in the provision of a pair of supporting units, each unit comprising two telescoping pipe sections over the outer ends of which are f xed two saddles, said saddles carry extensions designed to engage with supports on the manhole walls. The two units of the platform support extend between two opposite walls of the manhole and lie parallel to each other.

It has been theusual practice, in connection with these platforms which are required when work is to be done near the top of deep manholes or in manholes partly filled with water, to construct at the time a rough temporary support of scaffolding or boxes. Applicants invention obviates the necessity of preparing scaffolding or of resorting to such a makeshift support.

This device, though not limited to such use, is particularly adapted to manholes which afford access to. underground cable conduits. Such manholes are usuallyfitted with supports for the cables, and these supports are often attached to the walls in the following manner: Racks are fixed to the walls at intervals, extending from points near the top of the manhole to points near the bottom; these racks contain slots, the slots of the several racks lying at corresponding levels; the cable supports are provided with hooks corresponding in shape to the rack slots, and these hold the supports to the walls of the manhole. As will hereinafter be fully explained, applicants platform support, in the preferred construction, is adapted for attachment to these cable racks. It is, however, to be understood that other means of attaching the platform support to the manhole walls, within limits hereinafter defined, may be employed without passing beyond the scope of the invent1on.

It is proposed to describe specifically the preferred form of the support. This, it is to be understood, is solely for purposes of illustration and in no way limits the scope of the invention, which scope is to be determined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, F igure 1 represents a side elevation of one unit of the pair constituting applicants platform support, in the preferred form-broken lines indicating the internal relation of certain parts; Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of one of the saddl'esfin the preferred form; Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the device, in the same form; and Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the unit otherwise shown in Fig. 1. Like numerals of reference in the several figures of the drawing designate corresponding parts of the device. It is to be understood that the platform support is composed of two identical units such as that shown in the drawing.

VVith reference to the details of the drawing, the saddle 1 fits over a pipe section 3 and is attached to said pipe section at its left end by the rivet 9. Similarly, the saddle 2 fits over and is fixed by the rivet 10 to a second pipe section 4 at its right end. The pipe section 4 is of smaller diameter than the pipe section 3, and the two telescope together, 4 within 3, rendering the supporting unit adjustable as to length. In Fig. 1, the pipe sections 3 and 4 are shown transversely cut and dividedin order to show clearly the telescoping relation of the two; and the broken lines are added to make clear the position of the pipe section 4 within the pipe section 3. The working platform is laid across the pipe sections of the two units, and the saddles of each unit serve to steady their respective pipe sections and to carry the extensions by which the unit is attached to the manhole walls.

As to the means of attaching the support to the walls of the manhole, that which is preferred is disclosed in the four figures of the drawing. Projecting outward from the upper portions of the saddles 1 and 2, respectively, are T-shaped h'ooks 5 and 6. These hooks are particularly designed to fit into the slots of the cable racks described above. The lower outward extensions 7 and 8, two from each saddle, serve further to support and steady the platform by resting against the sides of the racks, laterally, and also against the walls of the manhole, and in addition, in case the work is at a low level, on the bottom of the manhole. While this is the preferred means of attachment, any other suitable extensions from the above described device of two telescoping pipe sections and two supporting saddles fixed thereto and any other means of holding the extensions to the manhole walls may, within the scope of the invention, be employed.

It will readily be understood that applioants device is suited to supporting working platforms in manholes greatly different in width. The hooks 5 and 6, or other attachable projections, of each unit fit into two opposite cable racks, and the telescoping pipe sections 3 and a permit the quick and simple adjustment of the length of the unit to suit the particular manhole. The maximum width, of the manholes to which the device is suited, as will readily be seen from Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, is approximately the sum of the lengths of the two pipe sections 3 and 4. The telescoping feature, furthermore, renders extremely easy the introduction of the units of the support into the manhole.

What is claimed is:

1. A manhole platform support including two identical units, each unit comprising two telescoping pipe sections and two saddles fixed one to each of said pipe sections, said saddles bearing extensions designed to engage with the manhole walls.

2. A manhole platform support including two identical units, each unit being adjustable as to length and comprising two telescoping pipe sections and two saddles fixed one to each. of said pipe sections, said saddles bearing extensions designed to engage with the manhole walls.

3. A manhole platform support including .two identical units, each unit comprising two telescoping pipe sections and two saddles fixed one to the outer end of each of said pipe sections, said saddles bearing extensions designed to engage with the manhole walls.

4:. A manhole platform support including two identical. units, each unit comprising manhole walls.

6. A manhole platform support including two identical units, each unit comprising two telescoping pipe sections, two saddles fixed one to each of said pipe sections, and

means for attaching said unit to the walls of the manhole, said attaching means comprising hooks extending outward from said saddles and designed to engage with racks on the manhole walls.

7. A manhole platform support including two identical units, each unit comprising two telescoping pipe sections, two saddles fixed one to each of said pipe sections, and means for attaching said unit to the walls of the manhole, said attaching means com-. prising T-shaped hooks extending out-ward, one from each saddle, and designed to fit into racks on the manhole walls.

8. A manhole platform support including two identical units, each unit comprising: two telescoping pipe sections; two saddles fixed one to each of said pipe sections; and means for attaching said unit to the walls of the manhole; said attaching means comprising T-shaped hooks extending one from the upper portion of each saddle and designed to fit into racks on the manhole walls, and two projections of equal length extending from the lower portion of each of said saddles.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this: specification this 5th day of May 1922.

CARLTON N. GONLEE. 

